Maestro Lorin Maazel greets Paçalin Pavaci, concertmaster of the Castleton Festival. On Wednesday, June 11, 2014, his third day leading his conducting master classes, Maestro Maazel worked with the 55-member Castleton Festival Orchestra and 15 master class conducting fellows and associates. Photo credit: Sara Cohn

MESSAGE FROM DIETLINDE TURBAN MAAZEL, FOUNDER and ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THE CASTLETON FESTIVAL

Maestro Maazel is currently in Rappahannock County, Virginia and is on his third day of leading master classes and rehearsals for the Castleton Festival, which is held practically in our backyard!

Maestro Maazel wants to express his deep gratitude to the many colleagues, friends, and fans who sent their love and prayers during his recent illness. Fortunately, all tests for serious illness were negative and he is recovering rapidly from what can best be described as a case of complete exhaustion brought on by a daunting conducting and travel schedule. Maestro is optimistic that he will conduct on occasion during the 2014 and 2015 Festivals and looks forward to focusing his energy and future work at Castleton – as Executive and Artistic Director, Composer in Residence, major talent scout, mentor, and coach. With the heaviest of hearts, he has decided that those priorities oblige him to resign from his position as music director of one of the world’s most remarkable orchestras, the Munich Philharmonic.

MESSAGE FROM MAESTRO LORIN MAAZEL

Following is a statement from Maestro Lorin Maazel, who is currently at his home in Rappahannock County, Virginia where he is leading conducting master classes with 15 young conductors and preparing the orchestra and artists for the upcoming Castleton Festival, which begins June 28-July 20.

“I would like to thank the literally millions of fans who have, upon hearing of some of my health difficulties I have experienced recently, redoubled requests of my services as conductor, such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, London’s Philharmonia et al.

I believe I have always acted as responsible professional person, and have been encouraged by my doctors that I should be fit as a conductor to take up my duties starting the Season following 2014/15 which does not exclude occasional appearances along the way.

The same sense of responsibility prevents me from officially accepting any appearances as a conductor until then. That means that with a heavy heart I am obliged to give up my position as Music Director of one of the finest orchestras in the world, the Munich Philharmonic, in my third and last Season 2014/15.”

–Lorin Maazel
June 11, 2014
Castleton, Virginia